For our first forty years, Columbia Presbyterian Church was part of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC). In 2018 we began a process of prayer and dialogue on whether our congregation should transition to the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). This process was confirmed by our congregation in November 2018. Though there is much to be thankful for the faithfulness of the OPC and the many relationships, we are excited about the years ahead in the PCA.
We believe and embrace biblical and historic Christianity as found in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and as summarized in the Nicene and Apostles Creeds. We believe the Bible to be the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error. We are committed to Reformed faith, which is more fully set forth by the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms.
God
Through Christ, God has demonstrated His power and grace by giving us salvation and adopting all who believe as His sons and daughters. With thankfulness we seek to love God with all that we are. We long to know more deeply the peace, love, and grace of Christ that makes us a people of joy and humility.
Truth
The Lord has revealed himself to us through the beauty of His Word, the Bible. Our desire is to not only know the Word, but to be a people of truth who live out what the Bible teaches. This is not possible without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit, who with the Word, empowers us to live the truth.
Worship
It is our belief that worship is our chief activity in life. It is the Lord who created us for worship, specifically, worship of the Triune God. We therefore commit ourselves to gather regularly for worship as a community to give God glory through prayer, praise, and celebration.
Discipleship
Discipleship is the process in which the Christian learns to obey what God has commanded and reflects the beauty and grace of Christ. This process of growing in grace must be through Spirit-empowered and Gospel-driven practices. At CPC, we want to commit ourselves anew to the importance of discipleship. We have different avenues for discipleship, ranging from fellowship groups to age-appropriate ministries.
People
As a people who have received the free offer of salvation through Christ, it is not enough to just enjoy it for ourselves. We believe that we are called to extend the grace of Christ though loving all people — whether Christians or non-Christians — with dignity and respect.
Mission
We believe that God has placed us in Columbia, Maryland for the purpose of declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. It is our goal to seek the peace and prosperity of Columbia, the region, and the world. This begins inside our homes and extends to our neighborhoods, our places of work, and wherever the Lord sends us.
Mercy
We desire to cultivate a culture of mercy wherein we seek to give special care to the weak and poor among us and whoever the Lord brings across our path. We will seek to manage and share the resources God gives us responsibly and faithfully.